The slip resistance of flooring materials in buildings is under the spotlight, particularly as an ageing population increases the risk of falls and associated public liability claims. HARTLEY HENDERSON reveals the latest initiatives to improve non-slip flooring performance.
A recent study by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) into the incidence of slips, trips and falls, and their relationship to the design and construction of buildings, indicates that in Australia each year there are more than 500 fatal falls and more than 110,000 hospital admissions resulting from falls in buildings. The annual cost of this is estimated at around $1.3 billion per annum.
The study, commissioned by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), makes a number of recommendations including that consideration be given to tougher standards for slip resistant floors at building entries, and that increased uniformity be encouraged in regard to both measurements and definitions of slip-resistance.
Property risk consultant Carl Strautins, from Safe Environments, says there is a need for a stronger focus on sustainable slip resistance because ceramic tiles, along with most flooring surfaces, can become less slip-resistant with use, and that this can occur rapidly. “Some relatively new products can become hazardous within a short period, but currently there are no Australian Standards to identify such products,” Strautins says.
“However, accelerated wear test methods have been developed for use in combination with portable tribometers to evaluate long-term slip resistance. Whether or not a Standard exists, the onus is on the manufacturer to ensure that the product they are supplying is fit for its intended purpose.
“Accelerated wear slip resistance testing is gaining acceptance, particularly with prominent multinational companies that design, construct and maintain their own buildings. Internal standards have been implemented by these companies to minimise their exposure to risk and litigation.
“Various anti-slip techniques are available for treating floor surfaces, including acid etching, application of adhesive tapes, coatings such as paint or epoxy with grit, and shot blasting or grinding of the surface. Also, we are starting to see the development of more sustainable slip resistant ceramic tiles through improvements in glaze technology. It should be noted that strict ongoing maintenance and cleaning procedures may be required after anti-slip treatments in order to maintain the slip resistance of the surface.
“Ideally, slip resistance surfaces will not change over time. However, slip resistance audits using AS/NZS 4663 have confirmed that the performance of many seemingly slip resistant materials can reduce significantly over time. In effect, no floor surface will ever be made available to the public in the condition that it was originally tested.”
Strautins points out that the loss of slip resistance with use may be attributed to a range of complex interacting factors including the installation process, surface treatments, maintenance and wear.
“The challenges of detecting losses in slip resistance are complicated as the inclining ramp test methods (R rating) cannot be conducted onsite. If there is a dispute regarding an installed surface or an incident occurs, only pendulum slip resistance testing and the dry floor friction test methods can confirm the onsite performance,” he said.
“The Australian Standard AS/NZS 4586, and Standards Australia Handbook HB 197 provide guidance on slip-resistant surfaces and are seen as best practice for satisfying the slip resistant requirements of new floor surfaces.”
Standards review
Richard Bowman of Intertile Research, who is chairman of the Standards Australia Committee on Pedestrian Slip Resistance, says AS/NZS 4586 and Handbook HB 197 are currently under review. “There will be a small change in the testing of smooth flooring materials which will result in identification of highly slippery surfaces and improved product classifications. There will be new recommendations as to which products should be used in various specific locations, including entry foyers in commercial buildings,” Bowman explained.
“There can be difficulties in assessing long term slip resistance because of the initial finish on materials, and their different wear characteristics and various exposure conditions. Different accelerated wear test methods may be required for different materials to simulate wear other than abrasive polishing. The development of accelerated test methods for predicting sustainable slip resistance needs to be based on benchmark studies of product performance.
“Slip resistance can also diminish quickly when inappropriate pads are used on polishing machines, so there needs to be close collaboration between specifiers and flooring suppliers in relation to informing facility managers about the appropriate maintenance regime.”
The ABCB advises that the Board is currently evaluating the MUARB study report with a view to providing a regulatory impact statement. Board chairman, Graham Huxley, says that as is the case with any proposed change to the Building Code of Australia, there will need to be a proper assessment of the benefits that would be achieved and the costs to the community.
Manufacturers’ view
Technical services manager at Polyflor Australia, Kevin Doidge, emphasises that when a customer asks for slip resistant flooring, a sustainable product should be provided that will stay fit for purpose for the life of the product. “However, there is a current anomaly between the Building Code of Australia, which is concerned with sustainable building, and AS/NZS 4586 which concerns itself with initial slip resistance,” Doidge says.
“AS/NZS 4586, which is currently under review, sets out the various testing processes to establish initial slip resistance classification in both wet and dry areas, but there is no requirement for sustainability of the original slip resistance over the warranted life of the product.
“In relation to sheet vinyl flooring, a strong case can be made for specifiers to seek compliance with the European standard EN 13845 – resilient flooring with particle-based enhanced slip resistant qualities throughout the total thickness of the product. Specifiers should also seek a written sustainable slip warranty from the supplier that guarantees the original slip resistance will remain for the warranted life of the product.
“Specifiers and facility managers should be aware that the Occupational Health and Safety legislation puts the duty of care responsibilities for occupational underfoot safety in the workplace onto building designers and end user maintenance.”
Polyflor’s Polysafe range warrants that the slip resistance is assured for the guaranteed life of the product. A combination of aggregates within the floor such as quartz, aluminium oxide and silicon carbide are incorporated throughout the full thickness of the product to ensure sustainable slip resistance.
The company says the Polysafe range combines the latest in maintenance technology called Supratec, which allows for easier soil release compared to traditional safety flooring, reducing the impact on the environment with less water and chemical usage in combination with a micro-fibre mop maintenance system. This generates significant life cycle cost savings.
Hartley Henderson is a Victorian journalist specialising in the construction and building industries.
This article first appeared in ‘Facility Management’, June-July 09 issue.
